La Bomba (Tiki Version)

I can't think of this drink without reflecting on the 90s Ricky Martin sensation. This drink is accurately named "The Bomb" because of its intense herbal and liquor flavors. Making any cocktail with an ounce of Pernod, triple sec, and one of apricot brandy, not to mention a full pour of light rum, is really like mixing gasoline and TNT. That's why it is a tiki, in my mind.

This is the first time I used this mug I got from Archipelago on U Street. They have cool mugs for sale for anyone who wants to tiki at home.

• 2 oz. light rum
• 1 oz. apricot brandy
• 1 oz. triple sec
• 1 oz. Pernod
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• pineapple spear

Combine all ingredients except pineapple in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a grim faced tiki mug full of crushed ice. Garnish with pineapple spear.

Blue Shark

This drink is squarely in the 90s era of tequila shots and shark-themed drinks consumed by cougars  with Ricky Martin's "La Veda Loca" playing in the background. It is also disturbingly similar to those blue gummy sharks that were popular with kids at the time. I was always grossed out by the flavor of those sharks, because the flavor was tequila. That is essentially what you get with this drink. It is all liquor and ice and it all tastes like tequila. Things get better once the ice begins to melt, and the vodka is actually a pleasing ingredient that prevents you from having a double of tequila with a few drops of blue curacao for color.

• 2 oz. white tequila
• 2 oz. vodka
• several dashes blue curacao

 Build drink in a highball glass with ice. Stir until chilled.